asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will request the National Building Agency to examine the extent to which the amount of home-produced wood chipboard for flooring applications in building could be increased, with a view to reducing the amount of solid timber at present imported for such purposes.

No. This is not the function of the National Building Agency. I have, however, already asked the Economic Development Committees for Building and Civil Engineering to consider ways of saving imports of building materials, of which timber is the largest single item.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make arrangements to open to the public the state rooms at Admiralty House once weekly on Saturdays.

I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion and write to him.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will arrange for St. James's Palace to be cleaned down in the near future.

I am looking into this. The decision will depend partly on the results of a survey of the old brickwork, and on the cost.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the total cost of the work completed at the Polaris base and the Nuclear Weapons Depot up to 28th February not included in the Defence Vote; if he will give the cost of the work his Department has done at the school; and if he will give a list of the larger items of expenditure.

My Ministry's total expenditure up to 28th February was £13·2 million. This comprised £4·3 million on the Coulport Depot, £1·2 million on married quarters, and £7·7 million on the Faslane base, of which £715,000 was on the school.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what was the total mileage run by Government vehicles placed at the disposal of Ministers in the years 1964, 1965 and 1966;(2) what was the total cost per mile, including depreciation and excluding depreciation, respectively, incurred in the running of Government vehicles placed at the disposal of Ministers in the years 1964, 1965 and 1966.

Figures are available only for financial years and for vehicles allocated to Ministers by my Department. These are:—

Financial year		Total mileage	Total cost per mile including depreciation	Total cost per mile excluding depreciation
			d.	d.
1963–64	…	296,152	48·59	41·57
1964–65	…	351,745	45·27	39·39
1965–66	…	409,006	45·30	39·58

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when the present renovations at Fort George started; and what is the estimated cost.

The present renovation began in January, 1967, and is estimated to cost £160,000.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will introduce legislation so that workers who are above retirement age and who are still employed, but who may fall sick or become temporarily unemployed, can receive wage-related benefit.

No. This possibility was very carefully considered when the earnings-related short-term benefits scheme was being prepared but there are compelling reasons against paying sickness and unemployment benefits above the retirement pension rate to people who are over minimum pension age.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many cases in the years 1964, 1965 and 1966 were brought to the attention of her Department of retirement pensioners losing benefits through late claims; and what would have been the cost each year of paying such late claims in full.

I regret that this information is not available. No record is kept of late claims for retirement pensions.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the social security benefits for which some test of means is applied as a condition of payment.

Tests of means are applied for my Department for the following social security benefits:

1. Supplementary Benefit (including repayment of National Health Service charges) under the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966.

2. Accommodation and pocket money provided under the Polish Resettlement Act 1947.

In addition resources are taken into account in considering claims for certain war pensions dependants' benefits.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is satisfied that the sum of 16s. a week pocket money is enough to sustain the personal needs of long-term patients in hospital, especially geriatric patients; and whether she will make a statement.

I am satisfied that in determining the rate of National Insurance benefit which is payable to long-term hospital patients it is reasonable to take into account the fact that everything necessary for the patient's comfort and well-being is provided free of charge. The benefit that is payable is only intended for any small extras which a patient may feel he would like to have.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the average supplementary pension now being paid to retirement pensioners without resources other than those disregarded for supplementary pension purposes.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many retirement pensioners there are in Wales, Scotland, and England, respectively; and what percentage these numbers are of the total number of persons over 21 years of age.

It is estimated that there were, at 31st December, 1966, about 335,000 retirement pensioners in Wales, 575,000 in Scotland and 5,625,000 in England, representing respectively 17·9, 16·9 and 18·2 per cent. of the population over 21 years of age.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many persons have asked for supplementary pensions in Wales; what percentage of retirement pensioners in Wales made a claim; and how many were successful.

Up to 31st January, 1967, about 38,000 claims to supplementary pension had been made in Wales; about 25,000 were successful. The percentage of retirement pensioners who made a claim is not known.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she is aware that it is now time to discontinue the practice of reducing the amount of payment due to retirement pensioners in lieu of shortage of stamps prior to 1948; and if she will take steps to ensure that such arrears do not have to be made good.

There are already provisions to enable gaps in contribution records which arose during 1947–48 to be made good by retrospective payment, both for retirement and widows' pensions. I do not think that in fairness all-round we could go beyond this under our contributory scheme of National Insurance.

asked the Minister of Social Security (1) if she will give an estimate of the number of people with assessments of 50 per cent. or more in respect of pneumoconiosis and also suffering from emphysema or bronchitis who would benefit if their emphysema or bronchitis were also taken into account in the assessment of their disability;(2) how many people with assessments of 50 per cent. or more in respect of pneumoconiosis and associated conditions were in receipt of industrial injury benefits at the latest convenient date.

At 30th September, 1965. there were approximately 6,300 beneficiaries receiving disablement pensions under the Industrial Injuries Act for pneumoconiosis assessed at 50 per cent. or more. Some 4,000 of these already receive the maximum rate of disablement pension or its equivalent. The remainder would benefit were the effects of any accompanying emphysema or bronchitis wholly taken into account in the assessment of their industrial disablement.

asked the Minister of Social Security to what extent she is associated with the work being done by the countries of the European Economic Community relating to industrial diseases.

The European Economic Community Commission issued Recommendations on industrial diseases to Member States in July, 1962, and again in July, 1966. I am not of course associated officially with the work of the Commission but the developments embodied in them are being studied carefully.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many cases have been adjudicated to date by the new Central Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel; and with what results.

The new Central Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel has held five boarding sessions. Twenty-one men have been examined and three cases of pneumoconiosis diagnosed.

asked the Minister of Social Security what was the net capital accumulation from National Insurance during the last five years, respectively; and what trend she is estimating for in the next 10 years.

The excess or deficit of income over outgo of the National Insurance Fund during the last five years was as follows:—

Year				£ million
1961–62	…	…	…	+13
1962–63	…	…	…	-13
1963–64	…	…	…	-49
1964–65	…	…	…	-21
1965–66	…	…	…	+25

The Government Actuary has estimated that on the basis of the rates of contributions and benefits laid down in the Act, the annual average deficit for periods up to 1980 would be as follows:

Five-year period				£ million Annual Average Deficit
1965–70	…	…	…	-12
1970–75	…	…	…	-64
1975–80	…	…	…	-70

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is aware of the Report of the Family Expenditures Survey for 1966 that pensioners have to draw on savings to meet commitments; and what action she proposes to take to remedy this situation.

I am aware that the Report shows that some pensioner households included in the Survey were not living solely on current income but were drawing on savings or receiving occasional help from relatives. There is nothing new or unexpected in this situation to call for special action by me.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the eight-year-old daughter of Mr. Gerald Smith was kept waiting in the East Ham Memorial Hospital for three hours before receiving treatment for a broken arm; and whether he will hold an inquiry into this incident.

This little girl was placed under nursing supervision immediately on arrival at the hospital and was seen by a doctor soon after. I am advised that treatment then proceeded as quickly as the circumstances of her case allowed.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average weekly cost per person of providing Part III accommodation.

In the year 1965–66, about £9 18s. 0d. per week.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average weekly cost of maintaining a patient in a geriatric hospital.

In the year 1965–66, £19 17s. 11d. per week.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the effect of expensive new drugs on hospital financial allocations, he will seek to make special financial allocations to regional boards to ease the difficulties of some hospitals.

No. These costs are take into account in the annual additions to boards' allocations.

asked the Minister of Health what are the maxima and minima salaries of building supervisors employed in hospitals; and how they compare with the salaries of group engineers.

£896 and £1,426: the lowest and highest salaries for group engineers are £1,098 and £2,322.

asked the Minister of Health whether all posts of building supervisors in hospitals are currently filled; and what is the rate of turnover among these employees.

The latest available information, provided by 245 hospital authorities, showed 6 vacancies on 1st January, 1966. The rate of turnover is not known.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are available for use of a kidney machine in the area covered by the London Borough of Havering.

There are facilities at Oldchurch Hospital for the treatment of patients suffering from acute renal failure including cases of poisoning. A regional unit to treat patients needing maintenance dialysis has been started at St. Bartholomew's Hospital which will later be expanded at St. Leonard's Hospital, N.1. A pilot scheme has been started at the London Hospital and consideration is being given to the expansion of facilities for maintenance dialysis.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the Report of the Salmon Committee.

Yes. The Committee's main recommendations on the pattern of a "line" system of nursing administration, a simplified grading structure, and systematic preparation for management responsibility have been widely welcomed, and the Secretary of State for Scotland and I accept them in principle. We have reservations on some matters and others require further study, and implementation of the recommendations must also be subject to our resources of manpower and finance.

asked the Minister of Health if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those services provided under the National Health Service regulations for which a test of means is applied.

The provision of services forming part of the National Health Service is not dependent on any test of means though certain charges are waived or reimbursed to those who cannot afford them.

asked the Minister of Health if he will establish in Cardiff a Central Registry to serve the whole of Wales in which births, deaths, marriages and wills can be registered in either Welsh or English.

No.

asked the Minister of Health what is the percentage increase in drug costs within the National Health Service for the past five years.

Expenditure in England and Wales on drugs in the Hospital Service increased by about 43 per cent. from 1960–61 to 1965–66, and on drugs, dressings and appliances dispensed by chemists by about 64 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the available statistics on the increase of drug addiction, if he will seek powers to prevent addicts from discharging themselves from hospital when they are not fit to he discharged, and consider seeking to amend the law of vagrancy so as to justify their detention in hospital, to prevent them from destroying themselves and others.

No. I accept the Brain Committee's view that compulsory treatment meets with little success.

asked the Minister of Heath what is the average cost of dental care per person; and what is the estimated cost of installing fluoridation, the yearly cost of fluoridation and the reduction in expenditure on dental care that he estimates will arise from fluoridation, after two years, five years and 10 years, respectively.

I regret that information in the form requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what occasioned the delay in setting up the inquiry into labour-only sub-contracting; and whether he will make a statement.

It was necessary to consult the Economic Development Committees for Building and for Civil Engineering and to consider trade union representations that the inquiry should extend to industries other than construction, before the terms of reference, which my right hon. Friend announced on 20th February, could be finalised.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made with the establishment of the Civil Air Transport Industry Training Board.

I have laid an Order today establishing this Board to take effect from 8th March. The following have accepted an invitation to become members of the Board:

asked the Minister of Labour on what date he received a communication from the Transport Salaried Workers Union concerning the transfer of the Finance Department from Newcastle-on-Tyne to York; and what reply he sent and on what date.

I have been unable to establish that any such communication has been received by this Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce legislation to amend Section 9 of the Local Government Act 1966 so as to enable 100 per cent. specific grants to be payable to local authorities for the reclamation of derelict land in Wales, in particular for the removal of slag-heaps, coal-heaps and industrial waste-heaps; and if he will make a statement.

No. That provision has only just been introduced and further legislation is not contemplated at this stage. Most of the waste heaps in Wales are in the Development Area to which the provisions of the Industrial Development Act 1966 apply.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to amend Section 9 of the Local Government Act 1966 so as to enable 100 per cent. specific grants to be payable to local authorities for the reclamation of derelict land in England, in particular for the removal of slag-heaps, coal-heaps and industrial waste-heaps; and if he will make a statement.

No. I think that the rates of grant, which are 85 per cent. in development areas, 75 per cent. in national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, and 50 per cent. elsewhere, are reasonable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he hopes to publish the report on the third London airport; and if he will make a statement.

The report will be published as soon as the Government have reached a decision.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in considering changes in town planning appeal procedure; and whether he will make a statement.

Good progress is being made on this matter; my right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement after the Easter Recess.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, prior to his decision to grant permission for the construction of a weir on the River Tees at Croft, he made inquiries to ascertain whether the water requirements of Imperial Chemical Industries were realistic and whether the company was using water as efficiently as possible; and what consideration he gave to the view of his inspector that water should not be taken from the river at Croft, unless the need was overriding.

My right hon. Friend took the decision on the evidence produced at the two public inquiries. This satisfied him that the need for the additional water was established. He gave full consideration to the reports of both inspectors and came to the conclusion that the Croft scheme should be allowed to proceed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of rate support grant he proposes to give Welsh local authorities for the year 1967–68.

I have been asked to reply.The amounts of the three elements of rate support grant payable to individual local authorities cannot be finally determined until after the conclusion of the year concerned when final information is available about the factors, such as population, expenditure and domestic rate products, on which the distribution of the grant depends. The provisional totals for Welsh local authorities for the year 1967–68 are as follows:—

		£m.
Needs element	…	66·4
Resources element	…	27·4
Domestic element	…	0·9
Total		94·7

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will set out in the Official Report a table showing the total number of people moving into new permanent dwellings in each year in Great Britain for each of the years 1951 to 1966 inclusive, showing also separate figures for the public and private sectors, respectively.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local housing authorities completed more than 500, and how many more than 1,000 houses in 1966; how many houses per thousand population this figure represented in each case; and which of the housing authorities achieving this level of performance have been named by him as eligible to receive the back-dated housing subsidies.

Fifty-three local housing authorities in England completed more than 500 dwellings in 1966 and seventeen of these completed more than 1,000. The rates per thousand population (excluding the Greater London Council) were 4·51 and 5·21 respectively.The authorities completing more than 500 dwellings in 1966 which are eligible to receive the back-dated housing subsidies, under Clause 1(3)

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have now incorporated the recommendations contained in his Department's Circular 54/64, Flats for the Disabled, in the ground floors of their new blocks of flats built or planned.

I regret that this information is not available. But I have no reason to think that local authorities are reluctant to accept the advice given in the circular; and the Department's architects are very willing to advise on the subject when the occasion arises.I will gladly look into the circumstances of any specific case the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constables concerned stating how many police officers were engaged in controlling the serious disturbance that occurred outside the works of Roberts Arundel in Chester-gate, Stockport, on 22nd February, 1967, and from which forces they came.

I am informed that 80 officers of the Stockport police force, 70 officers of the Manchester force and 30 officers of the Cheshire constabulary were engaged in dealing with this disturbance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made into why on Friday, 17th February, a petrol tanker driven by Mr. Gerald Markey broke down in Stratford High Street, E.15, causing petrol to pour into the road, causing a collision and reducing traffic flow to a single line for over one hour: how many police and firemen were in attendance; and what information he has about the state of repair of the vehicle.

I understand the tanker stopped because a shackle pin broke. Whilst it was stationary it was struck by another vehicle. The rear compartment of the tank was fractured and about 80 gallons of xylene spilled on to the road. Essential safety precautions, including traffic control, occupied the police and fire service for about two hours. Altogether 8 police and 14 firemen were in attendance. There is no evidence that the tanker had not been satisfactorily maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from Bristol Corporation concerning inadequate financial provision for books and equipment in comprehensive schools in the city and county; and what reply he has sent.

I have received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the numbers of students from overseas in United Kingdom universities and colleges of higher education, and those from the United Kingdom, for each of the years from 1964 to 1967.

The number of overseas students and United Kingdom students on full-time and sandwich courses at United Kingdom universities and colleges of further education in the academic years 1964–65 and 1965–66 were as follows:

			Overseas	U.K.
1964–65	…	…	31,366	323,745
1965–66	…	…	32,548	353,298

Complete figures for the academic year 1966–67 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many overseas students studied in this country during the last year for which figures are available what is the ratio of overseas students to domes- tic students; and what percentage of overseas students came from Asia and Africa and what percentage from the United States of America and Europe.

In 1965–66, there were 32,548 overseas students attending full-time and sandwich courses at universities and colleges of further education (8·5 per cent. of all such students). Just over 70 per cent. of these overseas students came from Asia and Africa, and 17 per cent. from Europe and the United States. The remaining 13 per cent. came from other countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of successes of students at Studley College and the comparison with other similar colleges.

The information is as follows:

DAIRYING
A.—National Diploma in Dairying
Studley College				Percentage of Passes
Year		Candidates	Diplomas awarded	Studley College	England and Wales: all further education establishments
1964	…	15	11	73	83
1965	…	19	15	79	84
1966	…	13	9	69	73

HORTICULTURE
B.—National Diploma in Horticulture (Intermediate Examination), 1966
	Candidates	Passes
Studley College	1	0
England and Wales: all further education establishments	34	15

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take in regard to those Welsh education authorities which have failed to take bilingual education into account in the plans they have prepared in response to Circular 10/65.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to him on this subject of 23 February.—[Vol.741, c.325.] I am satisfied all local education authorities in whose areas there is sufficient demand from parents to warrant the establishment of a Welsh secondary school of satisfactory size have already taken bilingual education into account in their plans under Circular 10/65.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the computers in use in each university, college of education, college of further education, technical college and

TABLE A—COMPUTERS IN UNIVERSITIES*
Institution	Type of Computer			Manufacturer
England
Aston University in Birmingham	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Bath University of Technology	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Birmingham University	KDF 9	…	…	English Electric Leo-Marconi(E.E. L.M)
Bradford University	Zebra	…	…	Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd.
	ICT 1909	…	…	International Computer & Tabulators Ltd
Bristol University	Elliott 503	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Brunel University	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Cambridge University	Atlas	…	…	I.C.T
City University	Pegasus	…	…	Ferranti (now I.C.T.)
	I.C.T. 1905	…	…	I.C.T.
Durham University	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Essex University	I.C.T. 1909	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Exeter University	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Hull University	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Keele University	IBM 1620	…	…	International Business Machines(IBM)
Lancaster University	ICT 1909	…	…	I.C.T.
Leeds University	KDF 9	…	…	E.E.L.M.
Leicester University	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Liverpool University	KDF 9	…	…	E.E.L.M.
London University:
Chelsea College of Science & Technology	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Imperial College of Science & Technology	Atlas	…	…	Ferranti (now I.C.T.)
University College	IBM 7090	…	…	I.B.M.
Loughborough University of Technology	IBM 1620	…	…	I.B.M.
	Argus 104	…	…	Ferranti (now I.C.T.)
	ICT 1905	…	…	I.C.T.
Manchester University	Atlas	…	…	Ferranti (now I.C.T.)
†Manchester University Institute of Science & Technology.	Argus	…	…	Ferranti (now I.C.T.)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne University	KDF 9	…	…	E.E.L.M.
†Nottingham University	KDF 9	…	…	E.E.L.M.
Oxford University	KDF 9	…	…	E.E.L.M.
Reading University	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Salford Royal College of Advanced Technology.	KDF	…	…	E.E.L.M.
Sheffield University	Mercury	…	…	Ferranti (now I.C.T.)
Southampton University	Pegass	…	…	Ferranti (now I.C.T.)
	ICT 1907	…	…	I.C.T.
Surrey University	Elliott 503	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Surrey University	Sirius	…	…	Ferranti (now I.C.T.)
Sussex University	ICT 1905	…	…	I.C.T.
Wales
University of Wales:
Aberystwyth	IBM 1620	…	…	I.B.M.
Bangor	Elliot 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.
Cardiff	Zebra	…	…	Standard Telephones & Cables Ltd
Swansea	IBM 1620	…	…	I.B.M.
	ICT 1905	…	…	I.C.T.
Welsh College of Advanced Technology	Zebra	…	…	Standard Telephones & Cables Ltd.
	Elliott 803	…	…	Elliott Automation Ltd.

Following is the information in respect of universities and establishments of further education. Comparable information is not available in respect of schools and colleges of education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the number of suitably qualified applicants for Science Research Council studentships for work towards a higher degree in each of the years 1962 to 1966, and the number of studentships awarded.

Science Research Council awards are provided for research training or an approved course of postgraduate instruction. They are not primarily for the purpose of obtaining a higher degree, although such a degree or diploma is usually awarded.The numbers are:

Year			Qualified Applicants	Awards made
1962–63	…	…	1,623*	1,610
1963–64	…	…	1,968*	1,932
1964–65	…	…	2,567	2,507
1965–66	…	…	2,928	2,785
1966–67	…	…	3,096	2,775
*These figures include a number of qualified applicants who withdrew their applications before an award was made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider lowering the qualification for a Science Research Council award in order to enable applicants, considered suitable by a university or college but having only a lower second-class honours degree, to receive an award.

No. There are two levels of qualification for Science Research Council awards. For a Research Studentship a candidate must normally have a first class honours or upper second class honours degree. For an Advanced Course Studentship a candidate with a lower second class honours degree is eligible. In both these categories the Council is prepared to consider alternative qualifications, or a combination of qualifications and experience provided that they demonstrate equivalent ability.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the shortage of scientists, he will make available enough Science Research Council postgraduate awards to ensure that no suitably qualified applicant lacks the opportunity to engage in research towards a higher degree.

No. In 1966 the number of research and advanced course studentships awarded by the Science Research Council (S.R.C.) was about 18 per cent. of the number graduating in that year and this provided support for about half the total number of postgraduate students in science and technology.I am advised that the proportion of scientists who now receive postgraduate training is about right. Further studies are in progress on the postgraduate training best suited to current national requirements. In recent years the S.R.C. has been especially encouraging research and advanced training in technology which has the greatest need for highly trained manpower. Recent policy of the Council has been to encourage more new graduates to go into industry in order to gain some experience before returning to University for postgraduate studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the number of Science Research Council post-doctoral fellowships awarded in each of the years 1962–66; and if he will increase the number of fellowships available, and the value of the award, in view of the growing numbers of British scientists taking up similar fellowships in other countries, especially the United States of America.

The numbers of Science Research Council (S.R.C.) post-doctoral Research Fellowships awarded in each of the years 1962–66 are as follows:—

Academic Year	SRC Fellowships tenable in UK	NATO* and SRC Fellowships tenable abroad	SRC Fellowships awarded to British scientists in N. America to enable them to return to the Uk	Total
1962–63	48	28	16	92
1963–64	44	18	20	82
1964–65	52	27	32	111
1965–66	83	25	41	149
1966–67	54	26	41	121
* NATO Fellowships are awarded by the S.R.C. on behalf of NATO, as a result of the UK's participation in the NATO Science Fellowships Programme.

In 1966 all candidates who applied and were considered to be qualified received a Fellowship. A proposal by the Science Research Council to increase the value of Fellowship awards is being considered in relation to relevant aspects of incomes policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now inquire into the delay of the local education authority to produce plans for the reorganisation of Brentwood's secondary schools in response to Circular 10/65.

The Brentwood proposals are under active consideration by the Essex Education Authority and I expect to receive them later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total of the grant paid to Welsh local authorities in 1966–67 towards the cost of milk and meals in schools.

I have been asked to reply.£5·2 mill on for meals and £0·8 million for milk.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that as a result of Her Majesty's Government's decision to increase fees for overseas students in Great Britain the number of Fulbright scholarships for British students has been cut; and whether he will now take further steps to remedy the situation.

The funds available for the payment of travel grants to British students has been reduced by the United State-United Kingdom Educational Commission, with whom decisions on the use of their funds rest.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of he need for 104 teachers in Cardiff and 82 in Glamorgan, what steps he is taking to ensure that a larger part of the output of trained teachers from Welsh colleges of education obtain posts in Wales.

Authorities are at liberty to recruit as many teachers as they wish within the limit of the quota. My right hon. Friend has had to ask all authorities both in England and Wales to accept a small reduction of their quota pupil-teacher standards during 1967. But authorities can augment their staff with teachers off the quota including married women returners and part-time teachers. Both the authorities mentioned at present employ substantially fewer part-time teachers than the average of authorities in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether agricultural marketing boards such as the Milk Marketing Board, the Wool Board and the Egg and Potato Marketing Boards could be continued in their present form in the event of Great Britain entering the European Economic Community.

This would depend on the arrangements agreed for an enlarged Community. It is possible that not all the current activities of the Boards would be considered compatible with existing E.E.C. rules; but it would be unduly speculative to attempt any assessment on the basis of the present Community's policy towards marketing organisations, which has not yet taken final shape.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give particulars of the bilateral agreement recently reached between Her Majesty's Government and Ghana over the settlement of debts.

The Agreement, signed in Accra on 27th February, gives formal expression to the proposals of the multilateral meeting held in London in December, 1966.It covers more than £25 million of debt due to British exporters up to the end of 1968 under credits of one to twelve years maturity arising from con- tracts concluded before 24th February, 1966 for the supply of goods and services to Ghana. Twenty per cent. of the debt will be paid by the end of 1968; the payment of the remaining eighty per cent. will be spread over eight years from mid-1971, beginning with 2·7 per cent. in the Ghana financial year ending 30th June, 1972, and continuing in rising annual amounts up to mid-1979. Interest will be paid half-yearly on the deferred amounts at rates determined by provisions where they exist, in the contracts concerned and otherwise at the present appropriate rate for British Government credit. The Agreement will be published as a Command Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give further details of the use to which £49,500,000 worth of ammunition and explosives referred to on page 138 of the Defence Estimates, 1967–68, will be put; how much of it will be sold to other countries; and why the amount is being increased by more than 25 per cent. compared with 1966–67.

The sum of £49,500,000 refers to the total manufacturing costs of ammunition and explosives produced by the Army Department for the three Services and for sale to overseas countries. It includes the costs of purchase of basic materials and components, as well as the cost of assembly and filling of complete rounds of ammunition and bombs. Requirements of the three Services accounts for some £41·0 million for ammunition and bombs for training purposes and to build up operational reserves; and £2·5 million is for the purchase of basic materials, such as explosives and propellants not yet made up into ammunition and not therefore at this stage attributable to individual items. The remaining £6·0 million is for production for sale to other countries.The increase of £10·8 million over the 1966–67 figure is made up of increased production expenditure of £8·0 million for the requirements of the Services, £1·5 million for sale to other countries and the remaining £1·3 million for increase, purchases of basic materials. The increased production for the Services is to help to build up reserves to authorised levels and to provide training stocks for new weapons being introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give further details of the estimate of £1,620,000 to

Country	Amount	Estimated Consumption ('000 gallons)	Average cost per 1,000 gallons
	£		£	s.	d.
United Kingdom	589,000	4,620,000	0	2	6·6
B.A.O.R.	612,000	3,000,500	0	4	0·9
Far East	268,000	2,700,000	0	1	11·8
Malta	11,000	76,000	0	2	9·3
Libya	5,000	29,000	0	3	7·2
Cyprus	10,000	40,000	0	5	0
Gibraltar:
Drinking	565	285	1	19	7·7
Brackish	3,435	—	—
Aden	107,000	428,000	0	5	0
Persian Gulf:
Drinking only remainder free	10,000	520	19	8	0
Kenya (Battken and Silver Sands Leave Centre)	4,000	14,300	0	5	6
Total	£1,620,000
Anticipated recoveries from the sale of water: £100,000(Vote 6Z3)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give further details of the estimated expenditure of £1,440,000 on compensation for losses, damage, &c., under the headings of traffic accidents, training and losses and damage to kit.

Following is the information:—

	£
Traffic Accidents	675,000
Training	691,000
Losses and damage to kit	2,600
Other miscellaneous claims including industrial accidents and certain ex gratia and regulational payments	71,400

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an analysis of the principal items which make up headquarters receipts in Table 2 of Appendix H of the Defence White Paper.

The forecast of £82 million Headquarters receipts for 1967–68 shown in the Statement on be spent on water by the Army in 1967–68; and if he will give the approximate average water rate paid in each country where this money is spent.

Details are as follows. The figures relate to purchases and do not include water obtained from installations owned by Ministry of Defence or Ministry of Public Building and Works:—Defence Estimates is made up of £49 million for arms sales (SDE page 53) and £33 million on invisible account. Of the latter, about £12 million represents receipts from the United States Government for their forces in the United Kingdom, £4·5 million is the contribution of the Hong Kong Government towards the stationing costs of British forces, about £8 million is receipts on account of research and development, and the balance represents miscellaneous receipts for a wide range of services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will institute an inquiry into the present machinery for discharges from the Services.